Meet Kelsey, our church's Access Ministry intern extraordinaire!
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Kelsey is a high school senior. And our special needs ministry would not be what it is without her. (After you read this, you can see why by reading here guest posts here, here, here, and here!)
I planned to do a week of Kelsey's posts around her graduation to celebrate the end of high school and the transition to my alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Go Heels!) But given that I could be in Taiwan then to bring Zoe home and given that Kelsey's passion, maturity, and servanthood blew folks away this weekend, it's clear: this is the week.
Kelsey didn't mean to dip her toes into special needs ministry the first time. She started helping in a preschool Sunday school class. Josiah was in that class, and he - in addition to a mischievous smile and fine blond hair - has Down syndrome. (Some day soon I'll blog here about how an encounter with Josiah brought me into special needs ministry too. God has great plans for that sweet boy!)
Then, as you'll read tomorrow, she wanted to go to a prom during her sophomore year of high school. As she'll admit, she thought she was settling for the Joy Prom, our dinner, dance, and celebration for guests with special needs, ages 16 and up. It's an annual event that our church started eight years ago and that we now host every even year while another church joins us in hosting the odd years.
This year the theme was Around the World, and guests and volunteers were invited to either wear formal attire (like Kels!) or something with an international flair (like me, with jewelry from Africa, a skirt and bracelets from India, and a belt from Ecuador).
You'll read her words this week about her passion for ministry, and you'll be blown away. In the words of one of my friends, "I want to be Kelsey when I grow up." While the pictures below show that she's still a teenager, I must admit that it wasn't Kelsey who said, "Let's make silly faces!" (Maybe someday I'll be as mature as she is.)
And what an example she sets!
Kelsey, I am so proud of the woman you are becoming, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the future. (So glad you'll only be about 30 minutes away for college! I can't think of a better excuse than YOU for many, many trips to Chapel Hill next year.) I've never turned this blog over to someone else for four days straight, but I can't think of a better person to encourage and inspire other churches in what they are doing to welcome those with special needs.
Kelsey, you humble me.
I planned to do a week of Kelsey's posts around her graduation to celebrate the end of high school and the transition to my alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Go Heels!) But given that I could be in Taiwan then to bring Zoe home and given that Kelsey's passion, maturity, and servanthood blew folks away this weekend, it's clear: this is the week.
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| Me and Kelsey on the red carpet before the shindig got started! |
Kelsey didn't mean to dip her toes into special needs ministry the first time. She started helping in a preschool Sunday school class. Josiah was in that class, and he - in addition to a mischievous smile and fine blond hair - has Down syndrome. (Some day soon I'll blog here about how an encounter with Josiah brought me into special needs ministry too. God has great plans for that sweet boy!)
 |
| (Nope, we weren't part of the medical team. We just liked the smiley balloon!) |
Then, as you'll read tomorrow, she wanted to go to a prom during her sophomore year of high school. As she'll admit, she thought she was settling for the Joy Prom, our dinner, dance, and celebration for guests with special needs, ages 16 and up. It's an annual event that our church started eight years ago and that we now host every even year while another church joins us in hosting the odd years.
 |
| My shoes? Comfy with old lady orthopedics. Kelsey's? Beautiful strappy sandals with heels. |
This year the theme was Around the World, and guests and volunteers were invited to either wear formal attire (like Kels!) or something with an international flair (like me, with jewelry from Africa, a skirt and bracelets from India, and a belt from Ecuador).
 |
| We're in the volunteer check-in area, which didn't have much decor... but note the flags on the left! |
You'll read her words this week about her passion for ministry, and you'll be blown away. In the words of one of my friends, "I want to be Kelsey when I grow up." While the pictures below show that she's still a teenager, I must admit that it wasn't Kelsey who said, "Let's make silly faces!" (Maybe someday I'll be as mature as she is.)
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example
in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
{1 Timothy 4:12}
And what an example she sets!
Kelsey, I am so proud of the woman you are becoming, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the future. (So glad you'll only be about 30 minutes away for college! I can't think of a better excuse than YOU for many, many trips to Chapel Hill next year.) I've never turned this blog over to someone else for four days straight, but I can't think of a better person to encourage and inspire other churches in what they are doing to welcome those with special needs.
Kelsey, you humble me.